NIT Srinagar scholars protest, demand scholarships

Ground Report | New Delhi: NIT Srinagar scholars protest; Research scholars from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar protested outside the campus at Hazratbal, Srinagar, demanding the release of their fellowships.

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NIT Srinagar scholars protest

A research scholar while talking to groundreport.in said that it has been almost 6 months that our fellowship amount has not been released. We have taken up the issue with the authority of the NIT, and have also written to the concerned ministry, but there is no response yet.

He said that some scholars live in rented accommodation outside the campus and are facing the possibility of eviction for not paying the rent.

“Whoever has joined this year has not received the scholarship money. He said that scholarship can be awarded only after physical verification of certificates, but students are all stranded in different states,” said another scholar.

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Feeling helpless

Another research scholar while talking to Groundreport.in said that he did not get any scholarship. “I do not know why the scholarship money did not come on time. I tried contacting the college authorities several times but they did not get revert. I have sent several emails to the ministry and NIT officials and still no response.

He said that “My father is an agricultural labourer and he had to depend on the money earned by him for his studies.” I have tried everything. I feel helpless".

“We appeal to the authorities to prepare a roadmap for timely release of the pending fellowship and disburse it at the earliest. This will allow scholars to focus on their primary task of research,'' another scholar said.

“The non-disbursement of fellowship grants is causing a lot of problems to students from economically weaker backgrounds, especially when they are facing difficulty in meeting their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter,” he said.

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